A baby has been delivered through C-section from a brain-dead woman who was kept on life support due to Georgia’s abortion regulations.
Adriana Smith, a resident of Atlanta, US, began experiencing severe headaches in February. Despite medical consultation, the headaches persisted.
At that time, 31-year-old Adriana was nine weeks pregnant. She was reportedly prescribed pain medication, but her condition worsened the following day.
The next morning, her boyfriend discovered her gasping for breath and took her to the hospital. A CT scan revealed the presence of multiple blood clots in her brain.
Unfortunately, doctors were unable to save Adriana, and she was pronounced brain dead. Due to Georgia’s ‘Heartbeat Bill’, which bans abortions after six weeks if a heartbeat is detected, she was placed on life support.
This law only permits abortion in cases of ‘medical emergency or medically futile pregnancy’ to save the life of the pregnant person, protect the woman’s health, or if the fetus is unlikely to survive.
The law was ratified in 2019 but only enforced after the overturning of Roe V Wade in 2022.
Since Adriana was no longer at risk, her doctors indicated they were legally obligated to maintain life support until the fetus reached viability, according to her family.
Her family expressed the agony of witnessing Adriana on life support. Her mother, April Newkirk, shared with 11Alive: “She’s been breathing through machines for more than 90 days. It’s torture for me. I see my daughter breathing, on a ventilator but she’s not there.”
Newkirk had voiced fears that her grandson could face significant health challenges.
Recently, Newkirk informed 11Alive that Adriana had delivered her son prematurely via C-section on Friday, June 13.
She mentioned that the baby, named Chance, weighed just 1lb 13oz (0.8 kg) but is ‘expected to be OK’.
“He’s just fighting. We just want prayers for him,” April added.
April also stated that Adriana would be removed from life support on Tuesday, June 17.
“It’s hard to process,” she shared. “I’m her mother. I shouldn’t be burying my daughter. My daughter should be burying me.”
Newkirk had previously expressed that the choice to keep someone on life support should rest with the family, stating: “I think every woman should have the right to make their own decision. And if not, then their partner or their parents.”